Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has previously expressed confidence a strong free trade agreement will be established as Britain plans to leave the European Union (EU).

Labor MP Jason Clare said Mr Abbott's comments were a "warning shot" to the Turnbull Government.

"Tony Abbott's gratuitous advice to Malcolm Turnbull on the direction Australia should take on trade with the UK is another part of his job application to the conservative right of the Coalition," he said.

"Australia is a trading nation and our trading relationships are too important to our economy to be used as a pawn in the Liberal Party's leadership games."